Material Property Data Form

Use the Material Property Data form to specify the parameters used in a material definition, including analysis and design properties.  

Note:  The Material Property Data form also displays when User is selected as the Standard on the Add New Material Property form.

• Material Name edit box. Use the suggested default or specify another name for the material property in this edit box. Note that the  built-in STEEL and CONC material property definitions cannot be deleted.

• Material Type drop-down list. Select the type of material to be used for this material property definition.

• The Steel Frame Design and Composite Beam Design postprocessors do not design members unless (among other things) the type of design specified for their associated material property is Steel.

• The Concrete Frame Design and Shear Wall Design postprocessors do not design members unless (among other things) the type of design specified for their associated material property is Concrete.

• Directional Symmetry Type drop-down list.  Select a directional symmetry type from the drop-down list. The option chosen affects the other options available on the form.

• Isotropic - The behavior of an isotropic material is independent of the direction of loading or the orientation of the material. In addition, shearing behavior is uncoupled from extensional behavior and is not affected by temperature change.

• Orthotopic - The behavior of an orthotropic material can be different in each of the three local coordinate directions. However, shearing behavior is uncoupled from extensional behavior and is not affected by temperature change.

• Uniaxial - This type is intended for use with rebar and tendon material types.

• Material Display Color display box. The color shown in this box will be used to illustrate the material property for on-screen and printed output. Click the Change  button to display the Color form. Click on a color on that form and click the OK button to change the Display Color for the material property.

• Material Notes Modify/Show Notes button.  Click this button to access the Material Notes form. Use the form to add notes about the material definitions in the model file.

• Material Weight and Mass edit boxes. Select if the definition is in weight density or mass density units. Use the default value shown in the appropriate edit box or specify another. Note that the mass per unit volume is used in calculating the self-mass of the structure if mass is specified to be determined from element and additional masses. The weight per unit volume is used in calculating the self-weight of the structure.

• Mechanical Property Data options.

• For isotropic materials, use the defaults or define one value for the modulus of elasticity, one for the Poisson's ratio and one for the coefficient of thermal expansion. ETABS calculates the shear modulus as described in the following equation:

• For orthotopic materials, click the Modify/Show Mechanical Property Data button to display the Material Mechanical Property Data form. Use that form to define three values—one for each local axis direction—for the modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, coefficient of thermal expansion and shear modulus.

• For Uniaxial materials, define one value for  the modulus of elasticity and one value for the coefficient of thermal expansion.

• Design Property Data and the Modify/Show Material Property Design Data button. Click this button to access the Material Property Design Data  form. The parameters included on that form depend on the Material Type.

• Advanced Material Property Data area.

• Nonlinear Material Data button. Click this button to access the Nonlinear Material Data form. Use that form to specify the hysteresis type to be used in a nonlinear analysis and to review/define the stress-strain curve. The form also has a button to allow the user to convert a default stress-strain curve definition to user defined so that the definition can be reviewed and, if necessary, modified.

• Material Damping Properties button. Click this button to access the Additional Material Damping form and add material modal damping for Response Spectrum and Time History load cases.

• Time Dependent Properties button. This button is enabled if the Material Type is Concrete, Tendon, or Masonry. Clicking the button accesses the Time Dependent Properties for {Concrete, Tendons} form.

Access the Material Property Data form as follows:

Method 1

1. Click Define menu > Material Properties command to access the Define Materials form. Then do one of the following:

• • Click the Add New Material button, which will bring up the Add New Material Property form. Use it to specify a material. The Material Property Data form will then display automatically.

  • Highlight the name of a previously defined material property and click the Modify/Show Material button.

Method 2:

1. Click the   button on the Frame Section Property Data form to bring up the Define Materials form.

2. Click the Add New Material button, which will bring up the Add New Material Property form. Use it to specify a material. The Material Property Data form will then display automatically.